This post originally appeared on Mongabay. Photo courtesy of Samantha Cheng. The imperative for nature conservation has never been greater. A widely publicized intergovernmental report predicts extinction for more than a million species over the next few decades unless we drastically change human consumption and economic growth. This loss of species will threaten the global…
The Mara River Basin (MRB) is home to more than 1.28 million people in Kenya and Tanzania and supports a number of critically important wildlife areas. However, pressures such as population growth and land use change threaten water resources, and the threat to water resources in turn threatens development of key economic sectors such as…
This brief highlights findings from a study that investigated how people make decisions that include uncertain climate information and attempts to articulate their application in a rapidly changing policy context. By applying behavioral psychology principles, the study explored effective means to present uncertain climate information in a way that leads to better uptake and therefore…
Most climate change adaptation and risk reduction measures require that humans modify existing behaviors or adopt new ones related to health, agriculture, natural resource management, infrastructure, and settlement patterns. Social and Behavior Change (SBC), which incorporates knowledge from across disciplines to change behaviors to address specific challenges, is a critical yet underutilized approach that can…
Climate variability and change present both current and future risks to human health. The purpose of this report is to: Increase understanding of the influence of climate variability and change, specifically, rising temperatures on malaria exposure of populations in sub-Saharan Africa; and provide public health decision-makers and stakeholder practitioners with information to make decisions about…
Through case study analyses, this USAID report provides recommended steps that city officials and the donor community can take to engage private sector partners in green infrastructure (GI) development and financing in developing countries. Four case studies of successful GI that yield both climate resilience and mitigation benefits in urban settings are provided to showcase…
Alejandro Arrivillaga is a biologist with more than 25 years of experience with complex, multi-country biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management projects, in government and non-governmental settings. Alejandro has a proven scientific record and experience with strategic planning and all aspects of resource assessment and monitoring. His work has required teamwork development, leadership and networking,…
Carlos Morales has over 20 years of experience implementing USAID and other donor funded projects in Latin America. He worked for over than ten years in the Guatemalan food industry, developing an exhaustive understanding of the vegetables value chain and strong relationships with producers, suppliers, and international customers. Carlos worked with the World Wildlife Fund…
To strengthen Mozambique’s ability to build resilience to climate change challenges, especially in vulnerable coastal communities, USAID launched the $19.9 million Coastal City Adaptation Project (CCAP) in 2013. Over a five-year period, CCAP worked with municipal governments to increase understanding of urban adaptation issues and increase the application of management options for urban adaptation, particularly…
Among the top emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, South Africa has redoubled its efforts to reduce emissions by expanding renewable energy generation. Several municipalities have set ambitious local clean energy goals that go beyond national targets. Yet, despite these ambitious aims, many municipalities in South Africa lack the technical capacity, access to finance,…
In Colombia, a country highly dependent on natural resources, climate change will have significant consequences. As the country consolidates a historic peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), it must also prepare for potential environmental deterioration as former combatants and displaced people resettle in rural areas. These challenges call for early action…
From mangroves to pine trees and sea turtles to quetzals, Guatemala is home to an incredibly diverse host of species and ecosystems. As one of the most ecologically diverse nations on the planet, Guatemala’s biodiversity underpins its food security, clean air and water, economic development, and local livelihoods. But its complex ecosystems are vulnerable to…